9. TOWARDS A SYNTHETIC GENETIC OSCILLATOR IN MAMMALIAN CELLS
Department: Bioengineering
Faculty Advisor(s):
Jeff Hasty
Primary Student
Name: Martin Kolnik
Email: mkolnik@ucsd.edu
Phone: 858-822-3858
Grad Year: 2010
Abstract
While considerable research effort has focused on elucidating the connectivity of gene networks, less is known about the temporal dynamics of gene regulation within such networks. We are constructing a simple synthetic gene network in mammalian cells that will exhibit oscillatory expression of its component genes. The network consists of coupled negative and positive transcriptional feedback to produce this behavior. We observe GFP production and degradation within the network using microscopy to quantify the expression state in individual cells in real time. The study of the dynamics of this system will shed light on how feedback mechanisms in gene networks can produce complex behavior in living cells.
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